TAMPA, Fla. — At some point, the percentages have to even out.
Don't they?
That's what the Florida coaches believe. How many times can the opponent — after 28 seconds of really good UF defense — throw in circus shots from well beyond the 3-point line and have them go in? Mississippi State, Arkansas, Alabama and Vanderbilt all did it last year. Heck, the Commodores even chucked in an 85-footer at the end of half.
This is topical now given what happened last week, when St. Bonaventure guards Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley rallied their team from down 15 by throwing in a slew of late-clock shots, including three from beyond 30 feet (one from 40) before the Gators made plays down the stretch and closed out a win. Mobley and Adams combined for nine 3s, but every one of them were clutch shots when the Bonnies needed them.
"Defensively, we weren't bad," UF coach
Mike White said of that game. "Sometimes good offense just beats good defense."
Which brings us to Belmont, the next opponent on the Gators' barnstorming tour of the state. Florida (3-0) will face the Bruins (1-1) Monday night and the Gators may want to extend their defense to the parking lot when their opponent's bus pulls into Amale Arena.
Chew on this number: 75.
That's how many 3-point shots Belmont has attempted in just two games. The Bruins jacked 41 of 'em in losing at Vanderbilt to open the season last week, then went 16-for-34 in routing Western Kentucky at home Saturday. In the halfcourt, they spread the floor to get off 3-point shots. In transition they're sprinting upcourt and fanning the perimeter looking for 3-point shots. If they offensive rebound the ball (which happens a lot when teams shooting 3s), they're firing it out on for shooters to step into 3-point shots. If they could turn free-throws into 3s, they'd do that, too.
For context: How many times did Florida attempt at least 34 shots from the arc last year during White's first season?
Answer: None.
It's as if Belmont almost views 2-point shots as an annoyance, attempting them barely 42 percent of the time vs. 58 from deep. OK, so that's maybe a stretch. The Bruins, after all, boast senior 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward Evan Bradds, the nation's leader the last two seasons in field-goal percentage. He doesn't shoot many 3s, but he's averaging 22.5 points and 11.0 rebounds because he's the beneficiary of good looks inside due to his his teammates being such threats on the outside.
But giving up two is always better than three.
Guarding the 3-point line, like Justin Leon here last week against St. Bonaventure guard Jaylen Adams, will be Priority 1 for the Gators against the Bruins.
In addressing his team, White couldn't make this game's point of emphasis any clearer. And he probably mentioned how Belmont went into North Carolina almost four years ago to the day (Nov. 18, 2013) and shocked the No. 12 Tar Heels on, of course, a late 3-point shot.
"It's such a simplistic approach. If you don't defend the 3 very well, Belmont will beat you," White said. "How do you prepare for them? F'or us, you stress it, you stress it and you stress it again. … It starts in transition. Off makes and misses they'll push and really run. They're a real good passing team. They find each. They throw a bunch of skip passes, pitch-ahead passes and several different guys get their feet set behind the arc. They'll get long rebounds and they're really good at kicking it back out."
To reiterate, the Gators have been OK defensively, though nowhere near the standard White and his staff have set. They've held three opponents to 38.2 percent overall and 36.4 from the 3-point line.
But the way Belmont plays, the volume of 3-point shots that go up is so unconventional. It's an inordinate and imbalanced number, so perimeter defense has to be disciplined and on high alert at all times.
A step slow on a switch, a missed rotation, going under a screen and not over it, losing your man on a box out, whatever.
The ball is going up.
"It's real difficult. They've got shooters all over the court," UF junior forward
Devin Robinson said. "You've just got to stay in your stance and play your hardest. We've got a lot of depth, so if you're tired, sub yourself out and we've just got to keep rotating, do our jobs, and make sure they don't get as many 3s off as the last team did --because [if they do] then we'll be in trouble."
